Dutch Freedom Party politician Daniel van der Stoep has resigned from his position as a member of the European Parliament (MEP). Last night, he posted a message on Twitter and on the Freedom Party (PVV) website that he was leaving the post because he had caused an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol.

No-one was injured in the collision - which occurred on Wednesday afternoon in The Hague - and material damage was limited. But the Dutch politician said he “disqualified himself as an MEP”.

A police statement released on Thursday said Mr Van Der Stoep had five times over the legal limit. Following his breathalyzer test, the MEP was forced to submit his driving licence to the authorities.

Mr Van der Stoep, 30, was elected in 2009 to the European Parliament representing Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV. Prior to that, he supported the Freedom Party as policy coordinator of internal affairs, defence and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba affairs in the Dutch parliament.

Earlier this year, Mr Van der Stoep posted messages relating to his private life on Twitter when his relationship broke up with his former fiancée, who slept with someone else. “Yesterday so cheated on that I’m still awake from the misery of it all,” he wrote on 10 April.

(jn/hs/as/jn)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide